Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad waits for the arrival of Iraqi Shiite Vice President Khudayr al-Khuzaie prior to a meeting in Tehran on March 10, 2012. (Getty Images)

(Newser)
–
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad lashed out at the West today in a televised speech, saying "the Iranian nation will not give a damn for [your] bombs, warships, and planes." Taking an apparent shot at President Obama, he added, "They say all [options] are on the table. Well, let them rot there. You yourself will rot." Ahmadinejad's comments come at a critical time, when the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany are on the verge of talks with Tehran about its nuclear ambitions, the Telegraph reports.

Ahmadinejad also brushed off Western economic sanctions aimed at Iran, saying that "there are no acute problems in the country and its economic pillars are strong. It is a psychological war." He also found time to slam Israel ("a dead entity") and its supporters: "Do not think that just because idiot leaders of regional countries support you, you will cement your basis in the region." As for Arab countries that support the West, he warned that "if they give only one day of freedom to their nation, their people in the one day will topple them all."

Give the people 'one day of freedom', he said. Well, maybe he should try that himself, and see what happens (although he doesn't have the power, he is more like a 'figurehead'. Sincerely, Truesoy

JackNelsonSteward

Mar 11, 2012 7:06 PM CDT

"Ahm'a mean Jihadi" isn't the power in the Iranian government. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is. "Ah'm a mean Jihadi" can ramble and rumble about whatever he wants. It's the man in the turban who has the power. When you want to find out what the Iranian government is REALLY up to, find what Khamenei has said about it.